Ely’s Comments (group member since Apr 21, 2019)

Ely’s comments from the Stella Project group.

I loved it so much! Like you said that peach dumpling scene—that reminded me so much of just baking with my Grandma and Nanna. It also made me crave the cherry biscuits my Nanna makes, so there's that.

I know we're not officially talking about his anymore, but I just finished it and I need some emotional support. Wow. I knew this was going to ruin me because of the grandparent aspect, but this really felt like my heart was being ripped out. I saw so much of my maternal grandparents in Bill and Mana that it hurt.

Can't wait to reread this one with you all!

Judge's Report

Diving into Glass is a deeply moving journey across family, love, art, literature and loss. Lit throughout with brilliant prose, this book reveals a family on the brink. Set against the backdrop of mental illness and childhood trauma, it is also the journey of the hard-fought victories that signalled changes in legislation surrounding the conditions of people with disabilities.

Llewellyn shows she has total control of the prose as she eloquently reveals the life she watched her father live—paralysed and in a wheelchair for most of his adult life as a result of polio—is something she herself may face after a diagnosis of MS.

The author takes us into the dark places of mental illness as well as the beauty of her mother’s, Kate Llewellyn, poetry. Diving into Glass is a brilliantly constructed story that is at once gripping and tender—shot through with love and empathy for the author’s family.

Reading Questions

1. I believe we have a few fans of poetry in the group...how many of you have read the work of Caro Llewellyn's mother, Kate Llewellyn? And for those of you who have, do you have a favourite poem or collection?

2. I know memoirs can kind of be a decisive genre. I know a lot of people who consider it one of their favourite genres, and others who struggle. Where do you sit?

If you're a fan, what are some of your favourites? And if you're not, why do you think that is?

Judge's Report

The promise of this beautiful book is in the title: Songspirals. These spirals unfold as the reader is invited into stories of family, land and culture, and the responsibilities of the Gay’wu group of women. This is storytelling that comes with obligation and by its nature has to be told in spirals, providing a glimpse into a profound way of learning about country, culture and family.

Developing a deeper understanding of Indigenous culture is finally being acknowledged as an important way of saving not only our landscapes but our people. As you read through each spiral you hear the women saying, ‘I will tell you this…now I will tell you this…and now, because you know this important part of the story, you can now know this other story.’

This generous, rich narrative helps readers slow down and open up to deep learning. We believe this is a rare and valuable book that, through the generosity of the writers, will increase the knowledge and importance of Indigenous storytelling.

Reading Questions

I have to admit to this being another one that I have yet to read. Unfortunately, I couldn't find much online either. So while I wait for my copy, I'm just going to open up the discussion by asking who's read this one so far. If you've got any insights or questions, please leave them below and I'll be back with some proper questions once I've got my copy!

Judge's Report

The innovative conceit of this work of fiction is Winch’s use of the language of the Wiradjuri people, to both tell the story and to teach language words. The result is a collection of interweaving stories that are revealed at a slow and gentle pace giving the reader the time needed to drop into the narrative.

Winch teaches us about Language with a capital ‘L’ weaving the present urgency of belonging, land rights, mining and climate change, with the stark reminder of the invasion history of pain and loss. The reader experiences an intricate layering of time through narrative explored in Language. This is Language that drives culture, and energy, and brings people back from the brink. It is Language that heals.

The vital importance of this story, as well as being a fabulous read, is that it reminds us that the way forward, the way to healing and reconnection, both for the land and for people, is through the depth of knowledge held within Indigenous languages.

Reading Questions

1. Tara June Winch chose to give voices to August, Albert Goondiwindi and Ferdinand Greenleaf. Why do you think she chose the split narrative? What is the impact of using such diverse voices and experiences?

2. How did you feel about Poppy’s method of bringing Wiradjuri language back through stories?

I'm not sure if anyone has read this and Songspirals: Sharing women's wisdom of Country through songlines or any of R.M.W Dixon's books on Indigenous language, but I think that could be a really interesting discussion. I think I'll be attempting to read all three, if anyone is interested in discussing those with me shortly!

Judge's Report

Wakefield’s young adult (YA) novel is genuine and full of heart. It is the kind of novel we searched for as adolescents, and reading it rekindled memories of discovery in the local library on Saturday mornings, when every so often it felt like an outstanding YA novel miraculously spoke to us from the book stacks and rows of shelving just when it was needed most.

This is How We Change the Ending tackles the urgent issues for kids today in a way that is relatable. It is an unflinching book that brims with anxieties and attitude, raw angst and gentle refuge. Foremost, the novel’s representation of the characters, and their urban settings and relationships, squares up with a life lived with next to no privilege, where opportunity is limited and minor victories, in fact, mean the world. And Wakefield has imparted this gritty realism with the deftest touch. This is How We Change the Ending will find a permanent place on our home bookshelves.

Reading Questions

This might be my favourite judge's report. I know that's a strange thing to have a favourite of, but none of the others have spoken to me quite like this one. There's so much to unpack here, even though this is yet another title I've yet to read.

1. 'It is the kind of novel we searched for as adolescents...when every so often it felt like an outstanding YA novel miraculously spoke to us from the book stacks and rows of shelving just when it was needed most.'

I would love to hear about the books you remember from your childhood and teenage years that made you feel like this? They don't necessarily have to be YA, just a story that stuck with you from that period!

2. I'm a longtime lover of YA, especially #LoveOzYA so I was so happy to see this on the list for this year. Without being dismissive to YA, does anyone have any thoughts as to why we haven't seen many YA titles make the list in other years?

3. Finally, for now, the judge's said that they believe This Is How We Change the Ending 'will find a permanent place on our home bookshelves'. What titles from this year's list do you think will have their own permanent place on your shelves?

Judge's Report
Rarely does a debut writer create a work this consistent in quality, technique and narrative form. The House of Youssef is a stunning collection of short stories exploring the intricacies of migrant life in Australia, and the pressures faced by culturally diverse Australians to balance their identity in a landscape that is constantly shifting when it comes to inclusion and equality.

Kassab uses her sparse and thoughtful prose to bring to life generations of families, and constructs each character with compassion, generosity and detail. Whilst the stories all stand on their own individually, each builds on the next to create a strong collection that shines as a whole. Issues such as gender equality, poverty, racism and family dynamics come together to demonstrate the complexity of the Australian identity.

This collection suggests we have much more to look forward to from Kassab as an emerging talent.

Reading Questions

The House of Youssef is Yumna Kassab's debut. It's a collection of short stories that take place in Western Sydney and portrays the life of Lebanese immigrants. As I mentioned, this is Kassab's debut so she joins the impressive list of first-time Stella nominees.

I have yet to read this one, so expect some detailed reading questions in the coming days. For now, I'd love to hear some general thoughts from anyone who has already marked this off the list!

Judges' report

The immediate appeal of this collection of short stories is the striking colour and movement that imbues the characters, setting and narrative of each story—it’s a vibrant read. Within this environment, Bui delivers bolts of warmth, humour, despair, poignant reflection and enduring kinship. The book is also brimming with nostalgia, with Bui’s writing perfectly encapsulating Vietnam, a location superbly rendered here. Bui presents streetscapes, temporalities and relations that we want to inhabit.

In a year where a number of short story collections emerged as some of the most impressive entries, Bui’s Lucky Ticket was among the choice few that provided the freshest of perspectives and an exuberant and exciting voice. This is a book we found ourselves wanting to carry around, look at, repeatedly leaf through and show off to people. It is full of fresh, daring writing and delicious, tangible worlds, and the book and Bui’s talent are both absolutely needed on the Australian literary-scape.

Reading Questions

Now that the 2020 longlist is out, it's time to get reading! We'll be focusing on the list from now until April when the winner is announced. You can read whichever of the books you like in whatever order suits—the discussion will all be here ready for you!

Lucky Ticket is Joey Bui's first book, so she's one of the many first-time nominees for the Prize this year. For Lucky Ticket, she spoke to refugees and displaced people from Vietnam, and elsewhere, and those people and their stories became the basis for some of her stories. She has stressed that every story and character is indeed fictional.

Because we've got so many threads to set up this week, I'm just going to start off with some basic questions and I'll add more as the discussion goes on!

So to start, I'd love to know what you thought of Lucky Ticket as a whole. I'd especially love to know if you consider yourself a fan of short stories or not! And finally, do you have any books you think you should be required reading about or by refugees?

I’ve got to agree with not being a fan of this one. I found Tiffany’s writing shockingly beautiful at times but was also kind of disgusted by the things that were happening. I’m not one to shy away from tough books, but the amount of times I almost put this down...

I was glad to see this one win this month because I had a feeling it would create some interesting discussion. Also I wanted an excuse to tell more people to read Exploded View. I PROMISE it’s better than this one.

Kind of disappointed that I'm not really seeing many people talk about this. I've seen a few posts on Insta, but not much else.

I saw the Insta stories. Friend and I have been talking about it all day. Hugely disappointed that it went this way. Also, what's with this whole awarding two people thing now?

I swear you have psychic powers. I was just about to ask everyone how they were feeling.

I’ll be at the Helen Garner talk for Broadside, but I couldn’t make any of the others :(

Lots of exciting Stella nominees are doing events in Melbourne this month. I thought I’d make this little list for anyone interested. Let me know if I’ve missed any, or if you know of any in other states.

13 October
Sunday Stories with Heather Rose: https://www.trybooking.com/BFBEZ
14 October
ONLINE WEBINAR: It’s Elemental: Finding the Detail to Enhance Your Description with Emily Bitto: https://writersvictoria.org.au/civicr...
15 October
Rekindle: Igniting Action with Alice Robinson (+ others): https://www.trybooking.com/544151
17 October
On Writing and Risk: Maxine Beneba Clarke on the State of the (Writing) Nation: https://writersvictoria.org.au/civicr...
18 October
Anna Krien and Favel Parrett: https://www.wheelercentre.com/events/...
23 October
Charlotte Wood in conversation with Sophie Cunningham: https://www.readings.com.au/event/cha...
25 October
Charlotte Wood and Elizabeth McCarthy: https://www.wheelercentre.com/events/...
6 November
Opening Pages at Fairfieldbooks with Carrie Tiffany: https://cityofliterature.com.au/explo...
9 November
Helen Garner: https://broadside.wheelercentre.com/h...
15 November
Axiomatic with Maria Tumarkin: https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/li...

I know I'm already booked in to several of these, so if you're attending any leave a comment and maybe we can have an impromptu, unofficial meet up!

Staring a little thread here to share some of the exciting events past Stella nominees might be attending!

Looks like things are coming together for the 2020 list!

https://twitter.com/TheStellaPrize/st...

I just started Exploded View and I'll be shocked if it doesn't make at least the longlist.

What about The Glad Shout? I know you liked that one Emily, do you think it has a shot?

Welcome, Julia! So glad to have you with us.

Just to let everyone know, we're trialing a new way of discussing books this month. In addition to our discussion here, we'll also have a group chat running on Instagram. It's up to you which you want to join, or if you want to be in both. If you do want to be included, let either Emily or I know and we can add you in!

Just popping in to let everyone know this title is also available on Scribd, if any of you have subscriptions to that!